PARKERSBURG'S EDGE ON NITRO: TRADITION PREP FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK

Publication: THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE
Published: 11/18/2005
Page: 6B
Headline: PARKERSBURG'S EDGE ON NITRO: TRADITION PREP FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
Byline: RICK RYAN

rickryan@wvgazette.com

Tradition can count for more than a few musty trophies and some old photographs. It can also breed confidence.

Parkersburg certainly holds a distinct edge in tradition for tonight's Class AAA quarterfinal matchup with Nitro at Laidley Field.

The Big Reds, who have been playing interscholastically since 1906, own nine state championships and 35 playoff wins all-time, the first coming in 1950. The Wildcats sport one title and seven postseason victories.

"We've talked about that," said Nitro coach Scott Tinsley. "Parkersburg has a great tradition, they're used to playing in big games and they're not afraid of winning big games.

"Some people aren't used to winning big games, and that's a problem. Their program expects to be in this position and they expect to win when they're in this position. Surely, we know they're not intimidated."

Two years ago, Parkersburg came to Kanawha County as a No. 13 seed and ousted fourth-seeded Riverside in the opening round of the playoffs.

Big Reds coach Bernie Buttrey, in his fourth season, has only played Nitro twice so far. The Wildcats blitzed Parkersburg 56-32 at Stadium Field in 2003 before the Big Reds returned the favor with a 42-14 pasting of Nitro at Underwood Field last fall.

"As far as the record between them and us since I've here, it's even," Buttrey said. "I don't know much about the Big Red-Nitro history before that and I don't know if it has a lot of effect on this game, because every year's a new year.

"Obviously, we take great pride in our years and years of tradition at Parkersburg High School, but I'm sure that doesn't mean anything to Nitro's team. It's an exciting matchup for us. Obviously, it's a challenge because we're the 11th seed and they're third. I think it's really a challenge our kids are looking forward to."

The only postseason meeting between the schools was in 1998, when Nitro won 24-15 in the semifinals at Stadium Field and went on to claim its only state championship.

Dragging the line

Nitro has had to lean on its line the past month, and it's paid off.

With games being contested more and more in muddy conditions, the Wildcats have found it harder to spring all-state tailback Josh Culbertson for long gainers, so they've been plugging along in shorter chunks. After ripping off 11 touchdown runs of 35 or more yards in his first six games, Culbertson has turned in only four such scores over his last five.

Tinsley said the play of junior lineman Chad Snodgrass (6-foot-5, 305 pounds) and senior linebacker Ross Martin (6-0, 230) has keyed the surge.

"[Snodgrass] has really been outstanding on both sides of the ball the last three weeks," Tinsley said. "He's played good all year, but he's really raised his level of play the last three weeks and done a great job.

"Martin's a four-year starter and he's as good a linebacker as I've seen. He's a great run-stopper and has three interceptions. We moved him from offensive tackle, where he started the last three years, to fullback four weeks ago and he's been a big key to our success running the ball lately - opening holes from the fullback spot."